Sadly, the UNC administration has chosen to reward the flawed leadership of basketball coach Roy Williams with a new contract.

Let’s address the values expressed by this contract in a university whose mission is to advance scholarship, research, and creativity. There are seven performance bonuses in the contract.

In this UNC world where college sports are actually professional sports it is fair to note the monetary values assigned to these bonuses. In the same way that LeBron James earns more than his teammate, former Carolina player Brendan Haywood, or a Lexus costs more than a Corolla, it is important to look at what is relative value in this new contract.

The highest bonus, a quarter of a million dollars, goes to Coach Williams if his players win the NCAA title. There is no mention, by the way, of financial rewards for these players. He amasses bonuses of $200,000 if his teams reach the Final Four or even the Elite 8. Winning even one game in the tournament is good for $100,000 and simply earning a spot in the field reaps a cool $25,000.

What, you might ask, is the value assigned to academic performance?

The Academic Progress Rate or APR is a quirky measure fabricated by the NCAA which basically tracks eligibility, a tiny step on the long path to a real education. The APR reflects the fact that the NCAA and Big Time college sports and the UNC scandal are driven by keeping players eligible, not by providing the opportunity for an education. Even with such a low bar as an educational measure, an acceptable APR is worth only $75,000, less in bonuses to Roy Williams than is making the NCAA tournament.

In a professional sports league, the bonus structure makes sense; in a university committed to scholarship, research and creativity, it does not. From an economic perspective, UNC has made it clear how it values academics for its Big Time Sports behemoth.

This is from The Commentators as heard on WCHL. You can listen to this and more here.

Related Stories
‹
Multiple UNC Athletics Programs Post Perfect Academic Progress Rates; Football Sets New High
Twelve different UNC athletic programs achieved a perfect Academic Progress Rate of 1,000 during the 2022-23 school year and 20 exceeded the national average of their respective sports in their four-year rates, according to a release from the athletic department. A highlight of the latest report is the football program, which achieved a record four-year […]
GOPers Like Cruz; Nobody Loves Kentucky: PPP
Two surveys from Public Policy Polling show Ted Cruz gaining and Americans split on the Final Four.
Duke Legend Talks Final Four
Steve Vacendak is a veteran of two Final Fours and the 1966 ACC Player of the Year.
Final Four Moves To Cable
CBS and TBS have amended their 14-year agreement to put the Final Four games on TBS next season and begin alternating the national title game in 2016.
UNC Women's Lacrosse in the 2026 National Championship: How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Start Time
The UNC women’s lacrosse team will vie for its second consecutive national championship when it faces No. 1 overall seed Northwestern in the title game Sunday. The Wildcats dealt the Tar Heels their only loss of the 2026 season. If you aren’t traveling with the team, here’s how you can follow along at home: TV […]
NCAA Tournament Expansion is Good Business ...Or Is It? – Stroman on Sports (May 8, 2026)
The Hill's Deborah Stroman and Brighton McConnell chat on Friday, May 8 about the recent expansion of the NCAA Tournament for men's and women's college basketball.
March Madness Tournaments Will Expand to 76 Teams Each Starting Next Season
The NCAA announced Thursday that it will expand its two March Madness tournaments by eight teams each next season.
Multiple UNC Teams Post Perfect Academic Progress Rates, New Report Says
Several UNC sports programs posted perfect single-year and multi-year academic progress rates for the 2024-25 academic year, according to the NCAA’s latest report. Academic progress rate (APR) is used to track performance of scholarship students who compete on varsity teams, and the score measures eligibility and retention each semester. A perfect score is 1000, and […]
President Trump Signs Executive Order That Aims to Stabilize College Sports
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday aimed at restoring “order, fairness and stability” to college athletics.
Chansky's Notebook: New Bloods
Each team heading to Indianapolis for the men's Final Four this weekend has mastered the new era of college hoops.
›